Ohio State Leaders Condemn Threats Against Coaches and Players But Where’s the Line With Fan Criticism?

Ohio State president Ravi Bellamkonda and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther both spoke out this week condemning threats directed at Buckeyes coaches and players following Ohio State’s brutal collapse against Texas — a game the Buckeyes led by 20 points in the fourth quarter before losing 24-23. In an interview with Columbus’ WSYX, Bellamkonda called the abuse “not the Ohio way,” while expressing continued confidence in the team and coaching staff. Ginther echoed that sentiment, saying the players, coaches, and their families “deserve to be protected” and that Columbus values mutual respect as a community.

Who Was Actually Targeted, and Why This Time Feels Different

The online backlash following the Texas loss zeroed in on two people in particular: head coach Ryan Day and transfer kicker Connor Hawkins, who missed a field-goal attempt with just over four minutes remaining in a game Ohio State ultimately lost by one point. Hawkins had actually been productive in that same game, scoring 11 points on three successful field goals and extra points before the miss. According to WSYX, both Ohio State University Police and Columbus Police are aware of threats made against Day and Hawkins and are actively monitoring the situation, with Ginther confirming Columbus PD will assist OSU’s police department if either agency determines a formal investigation is warranted.

It’s worth being precise about what’s actually being condemned here, because the story isn’t about fans being upset or vocal — it’s specifically about threats. That distinction matters, and it’s one worth sitting with for a second.

Criticism and Threats Are Not the Same Thing

There’s a real and important difference between fans venting frustration and fans threatening someone’s safety. Being angry that Ohio State blew a 20-point lead is completely fair. Criticizing Ryan Day’s clock management, questioning play-calling, or saying a kicker needs to be more consistent under pressure — all of that is normal sports fandom, and it’s protected speech. Fans are entitled to their opinions, even harsh ones, about the performance of public figures being paid to perform at the highest level of a high-profile program.

But a genuine threat aimed at a real person — their safety, their family, their well-being — isn’t an opinion. It’s not “just Twitter passion.” Under Ohio law specifically, Ohio Revised Code § 2917.21 classifies electronic messages or social media posts intended to harass, intimidate, or abuse another person as telecommunications harassment, a criminal offense. That’s the legal framework both police departments are operating under as they monitor this situation. So when Bellamkonda and Ginther talk about “not the Ohio way,” they’re not describing fans who are frustrated or even rude — they’re describing conduct serious enough to draw police attention and potential criminal liability.

This Isn’t the First Time Ohio State Has Dealt With This

Unfortunately, this pattern has become a recurring issue for the program in recent years. Last season, Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding faced a wave of online harassment after missing a potentially game-tying field goal in the Big Ten Championship loss to Indiana, serious enough that university police confirmed at the time they were aware of the posts and monitoring them. Ryan Day and his family also endured weeks of aggressive online messages following the 2024 loss to Michigan. The recurrence of this issue is part of why local leaders are choosing to speak publicly and directly about it now, rather than letting it pass quietly.

There’s also a broader policy dimension worth noting. Ohio’s sports gaming regulations, established in 2023, allow the Ohio Casino Control Commission to consider banning individuals from sports betting platforms if they threaten violence against people involved in a sporting event, when that threat is connected to sports wagering. Given how much sports betting has grown alongside college football’s popularity, that connection between gambling losses and online threats toward players and kickers specifically has become its own area of concern for regulators.

Bellamkonda’s Message to Fans: “The Midwestern Way”

Beyond addressing the threats directly, Bellamkonda used the moment to encourage Ohio State’s fan base to stick with the team regardless of results. He described sticking together through adversity as “the Midwestern way,” expressing continued belief in the program’s coaching staff and roster, and predicting a strong season ahead. That message is clearly aimed at reinforcing a supportive fan culture — not at discouraging fans from expressing disappointment or criticism, but at drawing a clear line around what crosses from passionate fandom into targeted harassment.

Where Ohio State Stands Heading Into the Rest of the Season

On the field, Ohio State dropped to 1-1 and fell to No. 6 in both the AP and Coaches polls following the loss in Austin. The Buckeyes are set to host Kent State this weekend as roughly 52.5-point favorites, before opening Big Ten play the following week at home against Illinois. Both games will air as Big Noon Kickoffs on FOX, giving Ohio State a clear opportunity to steady the ship — and, ideally, take some of the pressure off both Day and Hawkins in the process.

Why This Conversation Matters Beyond Ohio State

This isn’t just a Columbus story. As college athletes become more publicly accessible through social media, and as sports betting continues to grow nationally, the line between passionate criticism and genuine harassment is becoming a bigger issue at programs across the country not just Ohio State. What makes this moment notable is that university and city leadership chose to address it head-on, publicly, rather than let it go unaddressed. Fans are always going to be upset when their team loses in gut-wrenching fashion that’s part of what makes being a fan meaningful in the first place. The challenge, as this situation shows, is making sure that frustration stays in the realm of criticism and never crosses into threatening the safety of the very players and coaches fans claim to support.